I for one don't particularly like it when I pull into a RV resort or park and find 80 or 90 percent of lots filled with park models. Seems more like a poor boys retirement village than a vacation destination. How do some of you mobile RVers feel about this ?

You're probably going to get attacked for saying this, but I agree with you. Many RV parks are being turned into trailer parks. And I'm not saying everybody who lives in a trailer park is bad, but they do tend to attract an undesirable element at times. Many of the RV parks put these park models in and just rent them by the day and that is not too bad. You still have an RV park then. But when they start renting them long term as well as have long term RV rentals, they can start to get junky if the management doesn't keep up with it.Personally, if I owned an RV park, I'd probably allow long term renters as long as they were the full timer RV type of people, but I wouldn't allow people to build things around their RV. No decks and things of that nature.

Most places I've seen the park models, they were owned by snowbirds who alternated between 2 locations based on the weather.

"Birds of a feather, flock together." so the expression goes. Put yourself in the shoes of someone who owns a park model. Park models are designed and equipped to resemble a half-way house and trailer. Basically, I think they are just shorter versions of mobil homes, and more mobil as people do not remove the wheels or tongues on park models like they do with mobil homes.Nothing wrong with a "resort" or a "park" that has occupancy with park models. You're correct however, that park models can (and probably are) used for a permanent residence, but how many "traditional" full timers do the same thing with a more standard "mobil" RV?If the Park Models have found a happy destination spot, I think that's great! It doesn't affect my world in the least. If I am fortunate enough to get a "spot" to park and right between to Park Models, I'm still thrilled, simply because I did get a spot! I'll be moving soon enough, much sooner they they are. They're honkered down for the "duration". My "duration" is much shorter. But hey, those folks are just as friendly, just as courteous, and just plain ol' people like me.I see no difference there than a campground that has 1 or 2 campground "hosts" parked for several months at a time. The only difference is the type of RV they have. Other than that, I see no problem.But, if you're talking about "seasonal campsite" vs non-seasonal... well ... that's a different matter!

I have to agree, I avoid parks with them like I avoid the plague. One issue for me is most times the owners have developed cliques over the years they have been there and they see traveling RVs as interlopers who they would just as soon see move on down the road. Second, as they add the decks, the outdoor refrigerators, the freezers, the sheds, the plastic pink flamingos and the garden Gnomes the park model really becomes permanently parked and gradually decays over the years. In 10 or 15 years the park just becomes a junkyard. I like the vehicle part of recreational vehicle, it strongly implies it moves around.

PF&PM wrote:I for one don't particularly like it when I pull into a RV resort or park and find 80 or 90 percent of lots filled with park models. Seems more like a poor boys retirement village than a vacation destination. How do some of you mobile RVers feel about this ?I agree.. Quick buck with steady income for owners. One Florida park called us to ask why we had not returned and I told them "We have no interest in camping in a trailer park".

Feelings about Park Models... | Good Sam Community

okhmbldr
Explorer
Dec 27, 2013
I've never lived in one, but my father in law did for 10 years in Sun City, AZ. Bought it for $27,000. lived there 10 years, and sold for $30,0000. How many can say that with their trailer or motorhome?
It was a nice place with a huge rec. room and party facility, pools, etc., lots to do there. I visited several times and the place was always spotless and well kept. Most of the owners were snow birds who just wintered in Arizona.
ScottG
Nomad
Dec 27, 2013
Someone dare to not be like us!

Just kidding guys!
rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Dec 27, 2013
As you may have noticed, the economy has not been doing too well. There are a lot of people that have lost their homes and living in an RV in an motor home/trailer is all that they have. On the flip side, if it weren't for them, most of those same RV Parks would be closed and we would not even have the opportunity to stay there.
I have stayed at RV parks that had so many full timers that the school bus actually stopped there.
To me it doesn't matter since I only stay a night or two and I am just thankful that I have the means to travel around while others are doing everything they can to keep their family together.
Raymon
Explorer
Dec 27, 2013
Old-Biscuit wrote:
WOW.......what a snobby group.

I've been in a few resorts where the MH group looked down on us cause we had used our C2C and were in a 5vr.
Just another group of snobs.

Now, now. Don't lump all MH owners in the "snobs" group. I just sold our MH which we always called "the camper". One time at a campground, my wife came back from the laundry room and said to me "what is a coach"? She said some lady in the laundry room kept talking about her "coach". I said it most likely is a large class A motor home owned (?) by a "want-to-be" snob. At that time we too had a fiver and my new fiver and new truck were fully paid for. We have always called all our RV's "the camper".

To me it is not what you drive or pull, it is all about the kind of person you are. If you are a nice person and considerate of others, you can camp next to me anytime no matter what you choose to camp in.

Enjoy your fiver and don't worry about the MH snobs.

Ray
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
Dec 27, 2013
Whatever pays the bills!
msmith1199
Explorer II
Dec 27, 2013
Old-Biscuit wrote:
WOW.......what a snobby group.

I've been in a few resorts where the MH group looked down on us cause we had used our C2C and were in a 5vr.
Just another group of snobs.

See I told you there would be an attack coming!
Desert_Captain
Explorer III
Dec 27, 2013
On a recent long (7 state), trip we encountered lots of Good Sam "RV Parks" that were nothing more than run down trailer parks with a few transient slots. I can only assume no one from GS ever bothers to actually go to these parks before selling them their GS badges.

Most of the park model parks described by the OP are actually in better shape than many of those we came across. On more than one occasion we drove through the "Park" and drove right back out again as we were not even close to being comfortable staying there even for just a single night.

While we prefer actual campgrounds about once a week we want the additional amenities found in a real RV park - Wifi, laundry facilities, the ability to drop our tanks etc. and we pay the extra for them.... but when we hear the Banjo's we press on. :E
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Dec 27, 2013
WOW.......what a snobby group.

I've been in a few resorts where the MH group looked down on us cause we had used our C2C and were in a 5vr.
Just another group of snobs.
okgc
Explorer
Dec 27, 2013
PF&PM wrote:
I for one don't particularly like it when I pull into a RV resort or park and find 80 or 90 percent of lots filled with park models. Seems more like a poor boys retirement village than a vacation destination. How do some of you mobile RVers feel about this ?

I agree..

Quick buck with steady income for owners.

One Florida park called us to ask why we had not returned and I told them "We have no interest in camping in a trailer park".
bigdogger
Explorer II
Dec 27, 2013
I have to agree, I avoid parks with them like I avoid the plague. One issue for me is most times the owners have developed cliques over the years they have been there and they see traveling RVs as interlopers who they would just as soon see move on down the road. Second, as they add the decks, the outdoor refrigerators, the freezers, the sheds, the plastic pink flamingos and the garden Gnomes the park model really becomes permanently parked and gradually decays over the years. In 10 or 15 years the park just becomes a junkyard. I like the vehicle part of recreational vehicle, it strongly implies it moves around.